Melissa McCarthy recalls a time when she wanted to conform to certain standards of beauty, but looking back, she thinks that girl was an "idiot."

"In my 20s I used to cry about why I wasn't thinner or prettier, but I want to add that I also used to cry about things like: 'I wish my hair would grow faster. I wish I had different shoes...,' " she said in an interview with People, which features her on its upcoming cover. "I was an idiot. ... It's a decade of tears."

Despite criticism about her size and her acting, the 43-year-old "Tammy" star said she never felt the need to change.

"I've always thought, 'If you want somebody different, pick somebody else.' But sure, criticism can sometimes still get to me. Some things are so malicious, they knock the wind out of you."

They're writers, they're moms, they're directors, comedians, actors, and they're all hilarious. Here's a look at some of the funny women in Hollywood who are equal parts stars and role models.By Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times

Other headlines herald the mother of two as a plus-size role model, so it's not surprising that the conversation usually reverts back to her weight and size, with the narrative touting her success as well as her shape.

"It's like I'm managing to achieve all this success in spite of my affliction," she told the mag. "Would you ever put that in the headline for a male star?"